Charlotte Girl
SHAHR-luht
“free man” · French
#2
Sara
GirlHebrew· “princess”
- Meaning
- princess
- Origin
- Hebrew
- Pronunciation
- SEH-ruh
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #198
- US babies 2025
- 1,568
- Best rank
- #26 (1981)
- Peak year
- 1981
Meaning and origin of Sara
Sara is a Hebrew name that means “princess”.
Sara is a form of Sarah, the Hebrew name meaning "princess" or "noblewoman." In the Book of Genesis, Sarah is the wife of Abraham, originally called Sarai, and the mother of Isaac. The spelling Sara, without the final h, is standard in many European languages, including Spanish, Italian, Portuguese and the Scandinavian languages, and it is often chosen by English-speaking families who want a slightly simpler look. The name is timeless and unfussy, familiar in almost every culture, and pronounced SAIR-uh or SAH-rah depending on the language. It works easily with nearly any middle name and has few spelling pitfalls.
Other spellings with the same sound: Sarah, Cera, Serra.
Popularity over time
Sara has been given to babies in the United States since at least 1880, the first year of Social Security records. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 146 different years. Its best national rank was #26 in 1981, the same year it reached its highest count of 11,359 babies. In 2025, 1,568 babies were named Sara, and it ranked #198 nationally. Its use has been fairly steady over the past decade.
Its national rank moved from #111 in 1920, #147 in 1950, #27 in 1980, #57 in 2000, #119 in 2010, and #198 in 2025. Of the 436,193 US girls named Sara since records began, 24% were born in the 1980s, its biggest decade. The 1990s come next, with 72,170 babies. Since 2010, 30,290 more have been named Sara.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include April, Andrea, Kristin, Kristen, and Brandy.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Sara ranked highest in New Jersey, New York, and Illinois.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | #22 | 190 |
| New York | #54 | 232 |
| Illinois | #164 | 61 |
| Florida | #173 | 101 |
| Maryland | #181 | 29 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Sara is usually pronounced SEH-ruh, with two syllables. It has four letters, starts with S and ends in “-ra”. Names that sound the same but are spelled differently include Sarah, Cera, and Serra.
Middle names for Sara
A few middle names that flow with Sara: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Sara
Similar names
Mara Girl
MAHR-uh
“bitter” · Hebrew
#589
Ira Unisex
EYE-ruh
“watchful” · Hebrew
#822
Debora Girl
DEHB-ur-uh
“variant of Deborah, bee” · Hebrew
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Rachel Girl
RAY-chuhl
“ewe” · Hebrew
#250
Zara Girl
ZAHR-uh
“radiant, or form of Sarah” · Arabic
#212
Sarai Girl
suh-RY
“my princess” · Hebrew
#425
Hanna Girl
HA-nuh
“grace, favor” · Hebrew
#512
Tamara Girl
tuh-MAHR-uh
“date palm” · Hebrew
#1,816
Dara Girl
DAR-uh
“several origins; oak (Irish)” · Irish
#1,129
Liora Girl
lee-OR-uh
“my light” · Hebrew
#900
Hannah Girl
HA-nuh
“grace, favor” · Hebrew
#56
Leah Girl
LEE-uh
“weary” · Hebrew
#58
Lists that include Sara
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Sara mean?
Sara is a Hebrew name that means “princess”.
What is the origin of the name Sara?
Sara has Hebrew roots. Sara is a form of Sarah, the Hebrew name meaning "princess" or "noblewoman." In the Book of Genesis, Sarah is the wife of Abraham, originally called Sarai, and the mother of Isaac.
Is Sara a popular name?
Yes. Sara ranked #198 in the US in 2025, which makes it in the top 1,000.
Is Sara a boy or girl name?
Sara is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Sara?
Sara is usually pronounced SEH-ruh. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings